Day 1 - TPA to Kona HI

We flew on AA from TPA to DFW continuing on to Kona, HI. There was a long line to get our rental car, but we made it in time to our first stop at Magics for lunch before we experienced Hawaii‘sЧитать далее
Our home away from home in Kona

Our AirBnB was right across the street from one of the best snorkeling beaches on the Big Island!
A day at the beach

Diving with Mantas

Waikoloa

We spent a wonderful day driving along the Kona coast to Waikoloa. Visited the Hilton Waikoloa Village and snorkeled in A-Bay.
Downtown Kailua Kona

We spent the evening strolling through downtown Kailua-Kona and had dinner at Huggo’s where we enjoyed a breathtaking Kona sunset.
Kealakekua Bay and Capt’n Cook Monument

We spent the day snorkeling and paddling in Kealakekua Bay. The bay is an important historic location because it marks the site where the first westerner, Captain James Cook, landed on the island ofЧитать далее
On our way to the Volcanoes

We are leaving Kona behind after a brief but sweet visit with Giovanni and his wife who live in a beautiful house overlooking the bay. On our way south we stopped at a fruit stand to try some of theЧитать далее
At Mirinda’s coffee farm

To re-energize after a long drive, we stopped at this family owned coffee shop and farm and learned about the various coffee varieties.
Papakolea Green Sand Beach

From the southernmost point of the US we hiked 5.5 miles to a green sand beach located in a bay cut into a side of Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone that erupted about 50,000 years ago. The green sand isЧитать далее
Kilauea Military Camp

We arrived late in the evening at our destination and the change in temperature was quite drastic. Not only was it cold but it also had started to rain, so we were very happy to find out that ourЧитать далее
Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses 335,259 acres or about 523 square miles from the summit of Maunaloa to the sea (by comparison, the island of Oahu is 597 square miles). The Big IslandЧитать далее
Thurston LavaTube

Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), one of many such tubes on the island, was created by a river of molten lava. When a lava tube is active, lava travels along its floor at temperatures that exceed 2,000ºЧитать далее
Hilo and Rainbow Falls

Today we are exploring Hilo and surroundings, starting with a trip to Rainbow falls. The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed from its mist many mornings. Legends say that the caveЧитать далее
Hilo Farmers’ Market

We had a blast strolling through the market and acquired bracelets made out of here. Getting hungry we had some delicious ahi poke and fresh coconut juice before setting off to our next adventure.
Akaka Falls

Just a short trip from Hilo there is a great hike to Akaka falls. The pleasant 0.4-mile uphill hike will take you through a lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns
Hawaii

Hanauma bay
